The Denver school board has given investigators just one week to look into an allegation that Vice President Monica Hunter used antisemitic language. The investigation is set to be completed by the board’s next meeting on October 8, with a report due that same day.
The board is also set to decide whether to censure Hunter on October 8. This comes after a series of votes by the board, which first undid a previous vote that several members said they misunderstood.
Investigation Details
The previous vote, from two weeks ago, ordered an investigation into the antisemitism allegation and dismissed other allegations against Hunter. However, three board members said they hadn’t meant to do the second part. Three board members said they hadn’t meant to do the second part.“I think it’s important that we start over,” board President Xóchitl Gaytán said Thursday.
A proposal to limit the scope to interviews with just four people was expanded at Hunter’s request to include interviews with “any witnesses necessary,” though Gaytán pushed board members to keep the investigation narrow.
Gaytán accused Hunter of allegedly calling Jewish board member Amy Klein Molk a “Zionist bitch” in separate conversations with her and Superintendent Alex Marrero in December and January. Hunter has denied it, saying, “I absolutely don’t talk like that and would never say that about her.”
The board’s decision to investigate Hunter comes after a tumultuous period, including the resignation of board member DJ Torres, who stepped down just hours before the meeting. Torres had clashed with Gaytán, who accused him of missing meetings and refusing to communicate with her.
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The board has declared a vacancy for the District 3 seat representing central-east Denver and will have to appoint a new treasurer. The board has 60 days to appoint someone to fill the seat.
The investigation into the antisemitism allegations will be conducted by external investigators, who will have to work quickly to complete their report within the one-week time frame. The board approved the investigation after meeting in a closed-door executive session with its new attorneys from law firm Holland & Knight, which can charge the board as much as $1,000 an hour for its services.
Klein Molk said she favored a short timeline. “It has been my desire to do this in a way that brings people together and that stops dividing us,” she said. “I ask that we move quickly and swiftly, and that we do this with as much dignity and respect as humanly possible.”
Hunter advocated for an amendment to allow investigators to talk to additional relevant witnesses, saying, “Otherwise, it’s literally going to boil down to hearsay.” The board eventually voted unanimously to allow investigators to talk to witnesses and to deliver their report on October 8.
Next Steps
The board will have to appoint a new treasurer after DJ Torres’ resignation. Torres was elected in November 2025 with backing from the Denver teachers union and served as treasurer of the board.
The board will also have to appoint a new treasurer.
